Personal exercise equipment cover

ABSTRACT

An exercise Swiss ball cover with the capability of performing integrated resistance exercises and temporarily store personal belongings. The cover is a fabric rectangle secured at its shortest sides, or a fabric tube, into which the exercise Swiss ball is inserted and covered at the centermost, widest circumference. There are two perimeters, each having a small ring or grommet to attach and detach exercise accessories and personal belongings. The cover is cinched at its two perimeters to secure the cover to the exercise Swiss ball. It provides a 360 degree forward and backward rotation capability and a variable lateral rotation of up to 180 degrees without interference from excess material or the bare surface of the exercise Swiss ball. Variable side coverage depends upon stretch and width of fabric used. The cover can be folded into a flat rectangle, making it suitable to neatly drape over a workout bench.

The present application is a continuation of provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 60/897,264, filed by Rebecca Michelle Power, SanDiego, Calif. on Jan. 25, 2007, entitled “Personal Exercise EquipmentCovers”

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

6,547,703 Isometric Exercise Swiss ball, April 2003

6,712,745 Exercise Fitness Ball Cover, March 2004

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to covers with coverage and accessoryattachment capabilities, more specifically to protective fitnessaccessories, and particularly to a cover for the purpose of covering andprotecting an exercise Swiss ball in a securable and releasable fashionwith the ability to attach and detach extraneous personal fitnessequipment.

2. Description of Prior Art

Inflatable, unbreakable exercise Swiss balls have been the growing trendin personal physical fitness, rehabilitation, and core strengthtraining. These exercise Swiss balls are made of synthetic vinyl,plastic, or solid foam rubber. Because they are semi-non-porous, theycan harbor sweat from users, leading to a slippery surface, anunpleasant odor, bacteria, and a feeling of uncleanliness. Thus, thereis a need to keep the equipment and its users protected from sweat.

For people who incorporate fitness balls into their daily fitnessroutines and are concerned with the level at which they are perceived tobe clean, there is a need for a solution which does not compromise thefull range of motion used in the latest exercises such as wall squats,an exercise in which the exercise Swiss ball is placed between a walland a users back while the user slowly bends and straightens his or herlegs while his or her back rolls along the vertical circumference of theexercise Swiss ball, and the like.

Thus, there is a need for a fitted cover that conforms to the exerciseSwiss ball without compromising its functionality of core strengthtraining. There is a need to protect the ball during its use and a needto protect the user from a ball that may have been used by many peopleprior. A washable and dryable cover provides a solution to germs on theball as perceived by the end user. The cover needs to stay secure aroundthe ball without falling off through the range of motion during use. Thewashable cover provides a solution to a slippery surface while alsomaking a fashion statement or an advertising medium. A dryable coverprotects against moist bacterial breeding grounds.

In order to hang dry the exercise cover without compromising theintegrity of the fabric, an external loop or incorporated grommet madeout of any material attached to the cover is needed. Hanging of thecover on a hook can cause unnecessary stretching and kinking of a smallarea of the fabric.

People who own exercise Swiss balls at their homes or offices, or thelike, are often faced with storage dilemmas with respect to gravity.Exercise Swiss balls, alone, are often placed on the floor or a stand.There is a need for a way in which to store balls by hanging them fromthe ceiling or wall, or easily carrying them from place to place.

For people who add a resistance training component to core strengthtraining, there is a need for many people, to build and/or maintain thestrength in their torso and limbs. Many people isolate their workoutsthrough the utilization of various pieces of exercise equipment. Thiscan wastes time and money. There is a need for a means of attachingfitness training accessories such as resistance bands, to an exerciseSwiss ball during its use, solving both the needs of core strengthexercises and resistance exercises.

Many gyms prohibit guests from bringing purses and bags on the workoutfloor. That said, another problem faced by people who exercise in thegym is that they do not have a place to keep personal belongings such askeys, phones, workout journals, meal supplements, PDAs, MP3s, iPods andthe like close at hand. There is a need to provide accessible storagefor these items during one's workout. Since some of these items can havesome sort of lanyard, hook or clip attached to them, a ring forattaching these items or a pocket for storing these items will ensurethat one's personal belongings are secured together at one time.

Referencing U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,745 for an Exercise Fitness Ball Cover,March 2004, There is an excess of material in the design if it were tocover an area greater than one half the surface of the exercise Swissball. Because of the claim that the cover device has one perimeter, itis evident that there will be an area in which all of the excessmaterial is gathered, causing a lack of uniformity. While this servesthe utility for simple exercises during which the ball is intended tostay stationary, this excess material will cause an interruption inuniform smoothness in those exercises involving a full 360 degreerotation on the ball.

In further reference to 6,712,745 . . . . If the area containing thecord and the excess gathered fabric were positioned to one side of theball during an exercise requiring rotation, the weight of the excessmaterial and cord would compromise the symmetry of the exercise Swissball, and defeat the purpose of the exercise. Because the utility of theaforementioned device does not adequately allow for full range of motionexercises without compromising the symmetry and smoothness of theexercise Swiss ball, there is a need for a device with the utility toaccommodate said exercise functions.

Referencing U.S. Pat. No. 6,547,703 for an Isometric Exercise Swissball, April 2003. Because the construction of the aforementioned designis comprised of two hemispherical pieces of fabric designed to cover theentire surface of the exercise Swiss ball, it is necessary for theexercise Swiss ball to be deflated prior to engaging in the equipment'suse. This can take time and requires the use of additional equipment forinflating. For example, a gymnasium or physical training orrehabilitation center has several pre-inflated exercise Swiss ballsavailable to its guests. The Isometric Exercise Swiss ball does not lenditself utility in these and other similar situations. Thus, there is aneed to provide coverage for exercise Swiss balls with the option ofattaching additional fitness accessories without the need to deflate andinflate the ball upon use. Additionally, the shape is not flexibleenough for fitting various sizes of balls securely.

In further reference to 6,712,745 and 6,547,703 . . . . Fullyencompassing an exercise Swiss ball without the ability to see theinside ball can present a problem for theft management departments oforganizations offering the use of their exercise Swiss balls. Theaforementioned designs can lend themselves to possibility of theft,whereby the thief make can conceal the exercise Swiss ball as his or herown. Thus, there is a need to cover the exercise Swiss ball, while alsoallowing for the partial visibility of the exercise Swiss ball in orderto reduce the risk of theft.

In a final reference to 6,712,745 and 6,547,703 . . . . Theaforementioned inventions are spherical in shape and the range of theobjects which may be covered uniformly by said inventions are limited.Thus there is a need to minimize the number of covering devices anindividual bring for fitness protection, accessorizing, andtrend-setting. There is a need for a cover that not only fits anexercise Swiss ball, but also can be folded flat into a rectangle toneatly cover other pieces of exercise equipment including, but notlimited to: gym mats, yoga mats, exercise steps, weight benches.

SUMMARY

The present invention is a cover for covering an exercise Swiss ball.The cover is comprised of a rectangular piece of fabric secured at itsshortest sides, or a tubular piece of fabric into which the exerciseSwiss ball is inserted and covered at its centermost and widestcircumference. The cover can then be cinched at its two perimeters,thereby securing it to the exercise Swiss ball. The ball is covered andthe user protected throughout a full 360 degree forward and backwardrotation, and a variable side to side rotation of up to, but not limitedto, 180 degrees. This rotation is accomplished without interference fromexcess material or touching the bare surface of the exercise Swiss ball.Variable side coverage will depend upon the width and stretch capabilityof the fabric used, as well as the degree to which the user has cinchedthe device's perimeters.

In addition, the present invention covers an inflated exercise Swissball by means of a cover either rectangular or tubular in shape. In thecase of the rectangular shape, the length is of the device is slightlygreater that the circumference of the exercise Swiss ball. In the caseof the tubular shape, the circumference of the device is slightlygreater than the circumference of the exercise Swiss ball. In mostcases, the width of the cover is not greater than the diameter of theexercise Swiss ball, and never is the width of the device greater thanone half of the circumference of the exercise Swiss ball. The twoperimeters of the cover are equipped with drawstrings for securing andreleasing of the device to and from the exercise Swiss ball.

The present invention provides a medium for advertising or personalexpression, beyond that of an exercise Swiss ball alone. Company logos,sassy phrases, patterns and the like my be printed, embroidered,silk-screened, or the like onto the fabric of the cover.

And finally, the cover is equipped with one ring or grommet attached oneach perimeter. The rings can be made of metal, plastic, elastic orfabric, and they are attached through a reinforced button-hole sizedincision near the openings through which the drawstrings are drawn. Thepurpose of the rings is to allow for the easy attachment or detachmentof exercise resistance bands, phones, workout journals, mealsupplements, PDAs, MP3s, iPods and the like. When the cover is fullycinched around the exercise Swiss ball, the rings in the lateralopenings can be utilized to attach or detach the resistance bands.Through the use of a hook, lanyard, or clip the resistance bands or arefastened to or unfastened from the device. When the cover is not in usewith the exercise Swiss ball, the utility of the rings allows for thedevice to be hung on a hook without the risk of stretching or creating akink in the fabric.

Because the present invention is tubular in shape with two perimeters,it can easily slide around a fully inflated exercise Swiss ball and betightened with the ability to see the exercise Swiss ball inside througheither of its lateral closures, thereby reducing the possibility ofexercise Swiss ball theft. Furthermore, while the shape of the inventionfits an exercise Swiss ball, it can also be folded flat into a rectangleto neatly cover other pieces of exercise equipment including, but notlimited to: gym mats, yoga mats, exercise steps, weight benches, and thelike.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the rectangular to tubular design of the cover for anexercise Swiss ball, constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of the cover for covering an exercise Swissball, constructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the exercise Swiss ball cover is constructedfrom a rectangular piece of fabric in which the direction of stretch, ifany, runs parallel with the short ends of the fabric. At the long sidesof the rectangle, drawstring capabilities are constructed for thepurpose of-cinching, stretching and securing the cover to the exerciseSwiss ball. The shortest ends of the rectangle are fastened together byany means such as stitching (preferably), ties, zippers, fasteners,Velcro, or the like. The exercise Swiss ball cover can then slide overthe ball to form a cylinder of material that hugs the perimeter of theball. The drawstrings on both open ends of the cylinder of material canthen be pulled, stretching the fabric taut over the exercise Swiss ball.The open ends of the cover for the exercise Swiss ball are intended toface outward from the sides of the user during its use, as illustratedin FIG. 2, thus allowing the user to have a protective lining betweenthe exercise Swiss ball and himself or herself during a full range offorward and backward motion and a considerable tilt up to 90 degreesright or left.

The exercise Swiss ball cover in an unused state will have acircumference of approximately 80 inches and a width of approximately 30inches to accommodate a 65 centimeter exercise Swiss ball. For a 75centimeter exercise Swiss ball, the circumference of the cover in anunused state will measure approximately 88 inches with a width ofapproximately 33 inches. For a 55 centimeter exercise Swiss ball, thecircumference of the cover in an unused state will measure approximately72 inches with a width of 27 inches. The circumference and the widthwill vary with the amount of stretch afforded by the fabric used, andthe present invention is versatile enough to fit a range of sizes ofexercise Swiss balls. Although many of the utility claims of the presentinvention can be achieved with any type of flaccid material or fabric, amoisture-absorbent or moisture-repellent, fashionable, stretch fabric ispreferred.

The exercise Swiss ball cover of the present invention further includesa means of securing and releasing the device about an exercise Swissball. The preferred method is an elastic cord approximately ⅛″ indiameter and 80″ in length that has been threaded through the hemmedperimeters of the cover. The present invention contains two perimeters.Accordingly, two ribbons, strings, elastic cords, or the like are neededto secure the device to the exercise Swiss ball. The two ends of theribbons, strings, elastic cords, or the like at each perimeter of thedevice are then secured by means of a cord-stopper, bow, knot, or thelike.

The exercise Swiss ball cover adds the capability of performingintegrated resistance exercises. The cover is comprised of a rectangularpiece of fabric secured at its shortest sides, or a tubular piece offabric into which the exercise Swiss ball is inserted and covered at itscentermost and widest circumference. The cover can then be cinched atits two perimeters, each equipped with drawstrings, thereby securing thedevice to the exercise Swiss ball. Once the device is cinched, theexcess drawstrings can be tucked inside the snug area between theexercise Swiss ball and the cover. Each perimeter is also equipped withsmall rings or grommets through which hooks may be temporarily attachedfor the purpose of adding resistance bands to a workout, with the ballacting as the point from which resistance is drawn. Additionally, therings or grommets can be used to attach hooks for temporarily hangingsmall personal belongings during certain workouts which may not requirefull symmetry of weight. Pockets in the fabric may also be incorporatedto serve this purpose.

The exercise Swiss ball for this present invention's intended use issubstantially spherical in shape, and the cover includes the centermostand widest perimeter/circumference of the exercise Swiss ball. Variableside coverage will be dependent upon stretch and width of fabric and howtight the drawstring is pulled. A stretch polyester fabric cover has theadvantage of drying quickly, whereas a stretch cotton fabric will bemore absorbent of moisture. The cover can be made out of either or anytype of fabric, depending upon the user's preference. An organic blendof fabric may appeal to a more organic concerned with a soft feel ormore natural sweat protection.

The exercise Swiss ball cover is noted as a fabric that is substantiallytubular, or becomes tubular upon connection of the rectangular shapedfabric's shortest sides. The perimeters of the tubular fabric cover areequipped with drawstrings made functional by folding over and stitchinga hem along the device's two perimeters. The drawstrings along eachperimeter are capable of being secured upon cinching of cover'sperimeters and released prior to removal from the exercise Swiss ball.Securing and releasing of the drawstrings may be in the form of acord-stopper, a bow, or knot, or the natural tension which occurs by thecinching of fabric upon a cord, string, ribbon, elastic, or the like.

The exercise Swiss ball cover, as described in the present invention isdependent upon the width and stretch of the fabric used. Notably, theexercise Swiss ball cover made from a fabric with a greater width and orgreater stretch capability will cover a greater portion of the exerciseSwiss ball. Coverage is also dependent upon the degree to which thedevice's drawstrings are pulled by the user. Notably, the cover willcover a greater surface area of the exercise Swiss ball in a more tautfashion, as the drawstring is pulled tighter by the user. Rings orgrommets are secured into the lateral closures of the device for theoption of attaching resistance exercise bands or other small otherwiseunsecured personal belongings. These rings or grommets also allow forthe cover to hang alone, and even better, allows for the exercise ballto be hung in its cover, creating a storage area that is not dependentupon gravity. That is, the ball no longer has to take up space on thefloor.

The fabric used in the present invention will be either tubular orbecome tubular in its transformation into the device. The rectangularshaped fabric becomes tubular through stitching, zippers, Velcro, or thelike, the length is of the cover is slightly greater that thecircumference of the exercise Swiss ball. With the pre-made tubularfabric, the circumference of the cover is slightly greater than thecircumference of the exercise Swiss ball. In most cases, the width ofthe exercise Swiss ball cover is not greater than the diameter of theexercise Swiss ball, and never is the width of the cover greater thanone half of the circumference of the exercise Swiss ball. The twoperimeters of the cover are equipped with drawstrings for securing andreleasing of the device to and from the exercise Swiss ball. Theperimeters form the lateral closures to which the personal belongingcompatible rings or grommets made of plastic, metal, or the like aresecured through button-hole-like openings.

The present invention in designed to cover and protect an exercise Swissball substantially spherical in shape, at its centermost and widestperimeter/circumference, due to its tubular design. The fabric cover issubstantially tubular, or becomes tubular upon connection of therectangular shaped fabric's shortest sides. The perimeters of the coverare equipped with drawstrings made functional by hemming fabric alongthe device's two perimeters. The drawstrings along each perimeter arecapable of being secured upon cinching of the cover's perimeters andreleased prior to removal from the exercise Swiss ball. Securing andreleasing the drawstrings may be in the form of a cord-stopper, a bow,or knot, or the natural tension which occurs by the cinching of fabricupon a cord, string, ribbon, elastic, or the like. The degree to whichthe exercise Swiss ball is covered is dependent upon the width andstretch of the fabric used. Notably, a cover made from a fabric with agreater width and or greater stretch capability will cover a greaterportion of the exercise Swiss ball. Additionally, the coverage isdependent upon the degree to which the cover's drawstrings are pulled bythe user. Notably, the cover will protect a greater surface area of theexercise Swiss ball in a more taut fashion, as the drawstring is pulledtighter by the user.

To use the present invention, the user should place both arms throughthe tubular fabric and grab the ball, allowing the cover to slide overthe ball, forming a belt about the greatest and centermost perimeter ofthe exercise Swiss ball. The cover can then be flattened out, and thecords on each side should be pulled tightly to stretch the fabric of thecover. Two holes where the cover is gathered or cinched will expose theexercise Swiss ball on opposite sides in a symmetrical fashion. The usercan then has the option to attach personal items such as key, phone,portable music, workout journal, coin purse, hand towel, or resistanceexercise bands to the rings, creating a personal portable workoutstation for home, office, gym, or physical training.

When the cover is removed from the ball, it can be folded flat, orevenly draped over a workout bench for added protection. The cover canbe washed. The present invention can be made of any fabric, although astretch polyester blend allows for the quickest drying time, as dryenvironments have a tendency to be more resistant to the breeding ofbacteria. The cover provides a new medium for advertising and personalexpression.

1. A rectangular fabric cover for an exercise Swiss ball, adding thecapability of performing integrated resistance exercises, and providinga secure place to attach and detach personal items, made from arectangular piece of fabric secured at its shortest sides, or,alternately, a tubular piece of fabric into which the exercise Swissball is inserted and covered at the center and widest circumference,after which the cover is cinched at its two perimeters, each equippedwith a drawstring for securing the cover to the exercise Swiss ball, andthe excess drawstrings can be tucked inside the snug area between theexercise Swiss ball and the cover, and equipped with a grommet or ringfor the option of attaching a hook for the temporary storage of smallitems or for the use of fitness accessories.
 2. The cover of claim 1wherein the exercise Swiss ball is substantially spherical in shape, andthe device covers the centermost and widest perimeter/circumference ofthe exercise Swiss ball with variable side coverage dependent uponstretch capability and width of fabric used and how tight the drawstringis pulled.
 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is substantiallytubular, or becomes tubular upon connection of the rectangular shapedfabric's shortest sides.
 4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the perimetersof said tubular fabric accessory are equipped with drawstrings madefunctional by the hemming of the fabric along the cover's twoperimeters.
 5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the drawstrings along eachperimeter are capable of being secured upon cinching of device'sperimeters and released prior to removal of cover from exercise Swissball, wherein security and release of said drawstrings may be in theform of a cord-stopper, a bow, or knot, or the natural tension whichoccurs by the cinching of fabric upon a cord, string, ribbon, elastic,or the like.
 6. The cover of claim 1 wherein the coverage of claim 2 isdependent upon the width and stretch of the fabric used, and notably,the cover made from a fabric with a greater width and or greater stretchcapability will cover a greater portion of the exercise Swiss ball. 7.The cover of claim 1 wherein the coverage of claim 2 is dependent uponthe degree to which the device's drawstrings mentioned in claim 5 arepulled by the user, and notably, the cover will cover a greater surfacearea of the exercise Swiss ball in a more taut fashion, as thedrawstring is pulled tighter by the user.
 8. The cover of claim 1wherein the perimeters of claim 4 have grommets or rings to which hooksfor various items may be attached at the lateral enclosures for hangingpurposes.
 9. The cover of claim 1 can be neatly folded into a rectanglefor storage or to be neatly draped over a workout bench.
 10. The coverof claim 1 is equipped with rings or grommets attached on eitherperimeter to allow for the easy attachment or detachment of personalbelongings such as exercise resistance bands, phones, workout journals,meal supplements, PDAs, MP3s, iPods and the like, as well as hooks forhanging the cover of claim 1 with or without the exercise ball.